Meeting News - June 16, 2008 - (Page 38) State of the Industry: MN Exclusive Research continued from page 36 related to meeting planning, I learned on the job.” In fact, a full 56 percent of respondents have no formal meeting planning training and reported that they have learned “on the job”; only 15 percent have a degree in a related field. Despite—or, because of—little formal training before entering the field, 70 percent of the corporate planners and 60 percent of the association planners continue to hone their skills and reported having taken professional development courses in the past year, including meeting planning courses at industry conferences, as well as event planning and marketing courses. For example, in his role as event planner for Los Altos, CA-based David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Tom McCarter, attends MPI’s Professional Education Conference (PEC), as well as periodic MPI educational luncheons. This year, he’s added a couple of conferences focused on green meetings to his schedule. “My organization pays for registration, airfare, 79% of planners between ages 31 and 50 have attended courses at industry conferences, and 38% of those under 30 have taken event marketing courses hotel, and all the other basics for educational sessions and conventions,” he noted. Cooper-Zobott’s company also pays for educational opportunities. “Because I’m a department of one, my VP really encourages me to go to industry meetings and trade shows. I come back recharged and ready to go,” she said. One of her favorites is IT&ME in Chicago, in addition to some MPI meet- ings and informal meetings with a network of planners around the country. If a degree is not common, professional designations are perceived as important, and the CMP designation far outranks others. Of the survey’s corporate planners, 57 percent said it was important; 61 percent of the association planners valued it.“Since I was coming from the supplier side, I chose to go for the CMP to provide some self-education in the meeting planning industry,” said Cooper-Zobott. “The CMP is the most respected and well-known designation in the industry, and I felt the education would help me make that transition from supplier to meeting planner.” “The CMP has helped me do my job better because it’s given me great resources,” said Melissa Hart-Martin, who earned her CMP in 2004. HartMartin is director of meetings and events for insurance company Keenan & Associates in Torrence, CA. “Within the industry, having a CMP behind your continued on page 42 Planners of All Types What is your age? 0.0% Men and Women What is your age? Less than 25 years 0.0% 1.2% Less than 25 years 2.8% 0.0% 8.7% 6.7% 25-30 years 9.8% 25-30 years 7.3% 10.9% 30.4% 25.0% 34.9% 31-40 years 22.6% 31-40 years 29.4% 36.2% 23.3% 41-50 years 26.6% 29.9% 41-50 years 31.8% 20.3% 26.7% 26.3% Corporate Planners Association Planners Male 51-60 years 18.3% 51-60 years 21.2% 4.3% More than 60 years 10.1% 10.2% Other Planners More than 60 years 0% 5% 18.3% 6.7% Female 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Source: MeetingNews survey of 315 meeting planners 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% Source: MeetingNews survey of 315 meeting planners 38 MeetingNews June 16, 2008 www.meetingnews.com http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/research/index.jsp http://www.meetingnews.com
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